National consumer organisations from seven EU countries launched the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) on Monday 20 May calling for the EU-wide deployment of Nutri-Score - a simplified nutrition labelling system - on food and drink packaging, announced the European Bureau of Consumer Unions (BEUC) on the same day.
BEUC welcomes this initiative, which should enable citizens to make healthier food choices by depending on EU institutions to simplify the task - one of BEUC's priorities for the European elections. The ECI has already been registered by the European Commission (see EUROPE 12256/1, 12245/11).
Coordinated by UFC-Que Choisir (France), the petition was also launched by Consumentenbond (the Netherlands), EKPIZO (Greece), Federacja Konsumentów (Poland), OCU (Spain), Test Aankoop/Purchase Test (Belgium), VZBV (Germany).
“We know obesity rates continue to rise, and that part of the solution is to make it easier for consumers to make sense of nutritional information on food labels. We need strong political will to make it a reality so that consumers across Europe can choose healthier foods more easily”, Monique Goyens, BEUC Director, commented in a statement.
Nutri-Score gives food and beverages an overall nutritional rating on a scale from 'A' to 'E', with colour coding ranging from dark green to red. It takes into account nutrients to be avoided, such as sugar or salt, and nutrients to favour, such as fibre, fruit and vegetables.
“A coloured label on the front of the package helps busy consumers compare foods and instantly identify a healthier yogurt or snack”. The Nutri-Score system has already been established on a voluntary basis in France, Belgium and Spain and has proven its effectiveness. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)